(CNN) - While investigators focus on developments leading up to the Boston Marathon bombing, gun rights advocates zeroed in on the tense days after the deadly attack and the frantic manhunt for one of the suspects.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said residents were "imprisoned" in their homes with no means to protect themselves while police searched for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

His capture four days after the April 15 bombing was preceded by a wild Boston-area gun battle and chase during which his older brother and second suspect, Tamerlan, was killed.

A subsequent law enforcement dragnet paralyzed the city and close-in suburbs as the hunt for the surviving Tsarnev, considered armed and extremely dangerous, intensified and residents were warned to stay indoors.

"How many Bostonians wished they had a gun two weeks ago?" LaPierre asked in a speech at the NRA's convention in Houston Saturday.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured hiding in a boat in Watertown, Massachusetts.

"Boston proves it. When brave law enforcement officers did their job in that city so courageously, good guys with guns stopped terrorists with guns," he said.

The NRA is fighting efforts in Congress to expand background checks and pass other gun control measures prompted by the Newtown school massacre last December.

soundoff(64 Responses)

Bejoy Thomas

I think the NRA is making the wrong argument. The question is not whether good guys should get guns. They should get it as it is their second amendment right. The question is should bad guys get guns. Does the NRA believe that every person no matter what their criminal or mental history is should have their second amendment right protected? That is the argument about the whole background checks. Its not about preventing the so called good guys from getting guns. But the NRA choose to make arguments that doesn't address the background checks because they know they do not have an answer.

in a world full of people with interest in different things I think if a gay couple wants to get married go ahead and a responsible adult wants to own a gun go ahead. If we become biased towards our freedoms then we will be no different then the developing world around us that lacks true freedom for its citizens.

People are allowed to own guns in Boston and I'm all for the second amendment and for no restrictions on guns. But how would a gun have stop the terrorist attack no one knew about? NRA is insane. They are right wing zealots. I choose to believe in gun rights without resorting to absurd, paranoid delusions.

Just another example from this complete crazy loon. Everything he says is to scare the heck out of people. Doesn't matter if it is true or not! He has NO compassion for those affected in these tragedies! IF the NRA had ANY sence of reality they would drop this idiot immediately!

May 5, 2013 08:56 am at 8:56 am |

rs

"The question is should bad guys get guns. Does the NRA believe that every person no matter what their criminal or mental history is should have their second amendment right protected? That is the argument about the whole background checks."
_________________________
Your insight is correct. The NRA prefers to arm both sides in the role of the immoral arms dealer- it is all about the sale of weapons for American weapons manufacturers, not the deaths, the destruction and the costs, and especially not the 2nd Amendment or anything moral.

We need to treat the NRA just as we would some organization sending illegal arms to hot spots around the world. They are essentially just evil, and people who support their sick ends are no better.

May 5, 2013 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

rs

doesnt matter
"When brave law enforcement officers did their job in that city so courageously, good guys with guns stopped terrorists with guns"

Never mind the fact police riddled the surrounded houses with bullets with complete disregard for civilians that might be occupying them.......

And those 2 cops who shot the wrong car up in the Dorner manhunt?

Job well done, though.... Executed flawlessly... Good guys with guns can never harm innocent people.
____________________
So what? Explain how having more people wandering the streets with guns would make any of this better. Are you so deluded that you believe the so-called "good guys with guns" are MORE professional than the Police? Adding fire power to already volatile events simply means more chaos- And mind you THAT is what the NRA wants- to bring chaos, violence and death to America. They are no better than any array of crazy terrorist organizations or tin-pot third-worlders who have no desire to live in an orderly society.
The NRA in its current guess and their supporters are crazy- and need to be treated as such.

May 5, 2013 11:17 am at 11:17 am |

rs

La Pierre is the very best example of why only professionals in Law Enforcement and the military should handle guns. If La Pierre is emblematic of gun owners in America- these people don't reach the bar of sanity or responsibility.

May 5, 2013 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Len

One idiot talking to many idiots!

May 5, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

Liz the First

And this guy thinks someone with a gun would have been able to stop those bombs? what, we should just shoot anyone who may have accidentally left his backpack on the street? The NRA has officially sunken to nutburger level!

May 5, 2013 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

George

The policeman at MIT had a gun, and fully trained. What happened you buffoon? People in law enforcement get killed. How do you justify just because you have a gun you are safe?

May 5, 2013 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

RNK

I love reading almost all comments here showing that there are a lot of intelligent people around here who are brave enough they don't need to carry a gun all the time. If we ever faced a real threat the NRA is unlikely to provide any real help in dealing with it – maybe in making it worse. Pathetic greedy lunatics.